Award for protecting Antarctica and the Southern Ocean

17 October 2007

Dr Miller was presented with the award by WWF International President Emeritus HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at an event which also highlighted the continued action which is needed to save Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the face of increasing threats to its fragile habitats.

Diplomats, environmentalists, and scientists gathered at Buckingham Palace to hear speeches from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Dame Ellen MacArthur on the importance of safeguarding the Antarctic region, one of the world's last great wildernesses. WWF is asking parties to the Antarctic Treaty and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to show diplomatic support for the creation of a network of marine protected areas covering at least 10% of the 35 million sq km Southern Ocean by 2012. Creating a network of marine protected areas will help reduce the impact of other pressures in the region, such as fisheries and tourism, helping to sustain a healthier marine environment which is better able to adapt to climate change.

Dr Miller, Executive Secretary for CCAMLR received the Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal, WWF's highest accolade for implementing significant innovations by CCAMLR that have directly enhanced the preservation of the Southern Ocean.

James Leape, Director General of WWF International, said: "As the head of one of the world's leading conservation commissions, Dr Miller has shown exemplary leadership, responding to the global fishing crisis by pioneering new ways to safeguard our seas. His ground-breaking work has helped to promote a balanced management approach, halt illegal fishing, and reduce the number of seabirds killed by long-line fishing in one of the world's most important marine environments. These and other contributions make him a worthy recipient of the Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal."